Mario Balotelli: Liverpool striker likely to plead not guilty after FA charge him with misconduct for posting 'offensive' message on Instagram

The player faces a ban for message

Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli (GETTY IMAGES)

Mario Balotelli is likely to plead not guilty after the Football Association charged him with misconduct tonight over an inflammatory social media message, which contained an anti-Semitic stereotype.

The player faces a ban for a message described as "offensive" by the Jewish Leadership Council, which has already led to a public rebuke from his club. It is understood that Balotelli has not decided how to respond and will reflect on his next course of action, having been charged. But he is highly likely to challenge the governing body’s contention that he breached FA Rule E3 by retransmitting an Instagram image depicting the computer game character ‘Super Mario’ alongside a racial stereotype and anti-Semitic remark: “Jumps like a black man and grabs coins like a Jew.”

Liverpool acknowledged tonight that the player will go through the necessary process to answer the charge. That suggests that he will not follow Rio Ferdinand’s course of action, in October, when he declined to attend an FA hearing when he was charged last month. A Liverpool spokesman said: "We acknowledge the FA's decision and the player will work through the process to answer the charge. While that process is on-going the club will not be making any further comment."

Ferdinand’s decision effectively not to acknowledge the disciplinary process went down particularly badly with the three-man commission that heard his own case, after he was charged for his derogatory ”sket” comment on Twitter, which he claimed was meant in fun. That commission also took his previous conduct into account, including the episode in which he referred to Ashley Cole as "choc ice" on Twitter - resulting in what was a surprisingly high tariff of three-match ban and £25,000 fine. A more likely outcome in the Balotelli case would be a fine.

Balotelli does not appear to any previous conduct to take into consideration. Though there was no suggestion from Liverpool what his course of action or defence might be, he may possibly conceivably cite the work which he has done to promote an anti-racism agenda.

A defence is likely to be built around the context of the message. It was Balotelli’s intention to mock racial stereotypes. The image was initially published by the UK-based Lad Bible website – which, though known for misogynistic messages, lists strict anti-discriminatory guidelines regarding all photographs, videos and images posted under its name. Balotelli has already tried to defend his actions on Twitter. "My Mom is Jewish so all of u [sic] shut up please," he wrote, a reference to his foster mother.

The FA said in a statement: “Mario Balotelli has been charged by The FA in relation to a recent posting on social media. It is alleged the Liverpool player breached FA Rule E3[1] in that his posting was abusive and/or insulting and/or improper.

It is further alleged that this is an ‘Aggravated Breach’ as defined by FA Rule E3[2] as it included a reference to ethnic origin and/or colour and/or race and/or nationality and/or religion or belief.The player has until 6pm on 15 December 2014 to respond to the charge.”